ImpressionismA term transferred from painting to music. Instead of lifelike paintings with hard outlines, Impressionist artists used dots, or shades of color to create the "impression" of a scene on canvas. Musical Impressionists used different chord combinations and scales to try and capture the same kind of mood in their compositions.

ImprovisationThe art of composing music while performing it, without the help of a written score.

Incidental MusicBackground music for a play, movie, or television show. It is used to set the mood and illustrate the action; for a play, the incidental music also includes the overture and music between acts.

InstrumentAn object used to make music. There three basic kinds of instruments: wind instruments, which use air to make the sound; percussion instruments, which involve something being hit to make the sound; and instruments with strings that are plucked or played with a bow.

InstrumentationWriting music that is right for each instrument so it sounds good when they all play together.

Interlude1. A piece of music played between two other larger sections. 2. Music played between acts in a play or opera.

IntervalThe difference between two pitches. For example, pitches that are two steps apart are called seconds. There are three different kinds of intervals: major, minor, and perfect. Seconds, thirds, sixths, and sevenths exist as both major and minor intervals, the minor intervals being a half step smaller than the major ones. Fourths, fifths, and octaves are pe

ImpressionismA term transferred from painting to music. Instead of lifelike paintings with hard outlines, Impressionist artists used dots, or shades of color to create the "impression" of a scene on canvas. Musical Impressionists used different chord combinations and scales to try and capture the same kind of mood in their compositions.

ImprovisationThe art of composing music while performing it, without the help of a written score.

Incidental MusicBackground music for a play, movie, or television show. It is used to set the mood and illustrate the action; for a play, the incidental music also includes the overture and music between acts.

InstrumentAn object used to make music. There three basic kinds of instruments: wind instruments, which use air to make the sound; percussion instruments, which involve something being hit to make the sound; and instruments with strings that are plucked or played with a bow.

InstrumentationWriting music that is right for each instrument so it sounds good when they all play together.

Interlude1. A piece of music played between two other larger sections. 2. Music played between acts in a play or opera.

IntervalThe difference between two pitches. For example, pitches that are two steps apart are called seconds. There are three different kinds of intervals: major, minor, and perfect. Seconds, thirds, sixths, and sevenths exist as both major and minor intervals, the minor intervals being a half step smaller than the major ones. Fourths, fifths, and octaves are pe